Influence of Environmental Factors and Cultural Methods on the Content of N,N‑Dimethyltryptamine in Psychotria viridis (Rubiaceae)
André D. Cavalcante, Gabriele A. Cardoso, Fernando de Oliveira, Eduardo Bearzoti, Adriana Akemi Okuma, Lucienir Pains Duarte, Sidney Augusto Vieira Filho
Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society 2017 DOI: 10.21577/0103-5053.20170221 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Psychotria viridis leaf samples from 25 locations in Brazil |
| Duration | Over all four seasons |
| Topics | 5-MeO-DMT DMT |
| Keywords | Psychotria Rubiaceae Botany Alkaloids |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key findings | Seasonality, altitude, latitude, and biome type most strongly influence DMT content in Psychotria viridis, with nitrogen and magnesium levels positively correlated with DMT concentration. |
Abstract
Psychotria viridis is one of the species that produces N,N-dimethyltryptamine. Its decoction \ntogether with other species, such as Banisteriopsis caapi, produces ayahuasca, a beverage used for \nritualistic and medicinal purposes. The goal of this study was to understand how environmental \nfactors and cultivation methods influenced the content of N,N-dimethyltryptamine in P. viridis. \nOver all four seasons, leaf samples were collected from 25 different locations in 14 Brazilian \nstates, and Federal District. Environmental parameters, micro and macronutrients, plant \ncharacteristics, information on farming methods were correlated with N,N-dimethyltryptamine \ncontent, determined by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Greatest \neffects on the N,N-dimethyltryptamine amount were associated with seasonality, altitude, latitude \nand biome type. A positive correlation between N and Mg content and N,N-dimethyltryptamine \nlevels was statistically established. By regression analysis, the adequate foliar nutrient levels that \nwould result in the concentration of N,N-dimethyltryptamine in cultivated plants similar to that \nof Amazonian P. viridis were equated.